Toothbrush holder



April 27, 1954 R. E; swAlN TooTHBRusH HOLDER Filed Jan. 29, 1951 RobertE. Swain INVENTOR.

1 Atlomejx Patented Apr. 27, 1954 i .UNITI-'3o STATES PATENT OFFICE Thisinvention relates generally to supports and more particularly to toothbrush holders.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tooth brush holdercapable of holding brushes of different sizes reasonably firmly yetallowing easy withdrawal of the brushes from the holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tooth brush holderwhich is adapted to preserve the tooth brushes in sanitary condition,while allowing the handles of the tooth brushes to be exposed.

Another object of this invention, ancillary to the preceding objects, isto provide a tooth brush holder which Will retain a considerable numberof brushes Within a small space, and which will also support a tube oftooth paste or the like in easily accessible position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tooth brush holderin which the brushes contained therein are easily recognized and thequestion of ownership is never in doubt, thus providing a holder whichis ideal for family use.

A last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a tooth brushholder which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture,which is simple, hygienic and safe to use, and which will give generallyeiiicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the tooth brush holder;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially upon the line2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the line3-3 in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Figure3.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical portionsthroughout the specification and throughout the different views of thedrawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes a backplate I having rearwardly offset attaching lugs I2, whereby the holderis secured to a wall I4, or other xed support, by means of screws I6.The back plate has integral forwardly extending side walls 20 extendingfrom the top of the back plate I0 to points substantially at the levelof the center of the back plate, and a front plate 22 is carried by andmay be integral with the forward edges of the side walls 20. The frontplate 22 is of tapered thickness, although the front face of the frontplate 22 is parallel to the rear face of the back plate I0. Thisconstruction allows for a varied spacing between the front and backplate transversely of the holder, as will be clearly understood from aninspection of Figure 4, while preserving a symmetrical appearance, whenviewed from the front.

The front face of the back plate It, in the upper portion thereof behindthe front plate 22, is provided with vertical, horizontally spaced ribs24 which divide the back plate for reception of a number of toothbrushes 28, while transversely disposed parallel and horizontalundulations or deformations 26 are provided in the front face of theback plate I 0, as further insurance against the tooth brushes 28 fromin-n advertently becoming dislodged from the holder. It will beunderstood that the undulations 2t engage the bristles of the toothbrush, as will be clearly understood from a consideration of Figures 2and 4, while the back of the tooth brush engages the tapered front plate22.

A top panel 30 is provided for the holder, this panel being preferablyintegral with the back plate I0 and the front plate 22, and the upperface of the panel is concave as indicated at 32 to receive a tube oftooth paste 34.

If desired, a ring holder 36 for a water glass 38 may be rigidly securedto the outer face of the front plate 22. It will be understood that therearwardly projecting ribs I 8 on the rear base of the back panel retainthe holder in spaced relation with respect to the walls I4.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connectionwith the drawings and with the abovepresented objects of invention. Further description would appearunnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tooth brush holder comprising a back plate, forwardly extendingside walls carried by the back plate and a front plate carried by saidside walls and unequally spaced from the back plate, whereby brushes ofdiiierent dimensions can be frictionally held between the back plate andthe front plate, the front plate being shorter than the back plate andcovering the upper part Number Name Date of the back plate, said upperpart having a hor- 1,588,781 Stoddard June 15, 1926 zontally undulatedfront face to engage the 1,653,540 BigOney Dec. 20, 1927 bristles oftooth brushes and retain the same 1,669,143 Pocock May 8, 1928 betweensaid front and rear walls. 5 1,706,111 Fleming Mar. 19, 1929 2. A holderaccording to claim 1 and including 2,200,046 Straus May 7, 1940 verticalribs on the front face of the upper por- 2,236,333 Cowles Mar. 25, 194'1tion of the back plate to form separate com- 2,425,5'79 Toornbs Aug- 12,1947 partments for tooth brushes. 2,509,507 Kane May 30, 195o 102,564,472 Farnham Aug. 14, 1951 Referenties cited in the me of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 147,123 Hanni July 15,1947 15

